Free Stonewall Goes West: A Novel of The Civil War and What Might Have Been (Stonewall Goes West Trilogy) by R.E. Thomas

himself on Lee, for he recognized and accepted they were men of two very different temperaments, yet he still admired him as no other living soul.
    Jackson sat silently, registering no emotion, but Lee could see he had absorbed his advice, and said “Now, I do not need to tell you that your company will be dearly missed here. I am not sure what fare can be found on such short notice, but I would be delighted if you and General Stuart would join me for supper. On some night in the next few days.”
    Jackson smiled. Despite their many differences, the flamboyant Stuart was his best friend in the Army of Northern Virginia. “Sir, I would be pleased and honored to join you and General Stuart. Send word of when, and I shall be there.”
    The conversation continued for some time after that. Jackson asked how much of his military family, the staff who had served him since the Valley, he would be allowed to take to Georgia. Lee insisted on retaining the services of Jed Hotchkiss, stating that the mapmaker’s mastery of the Virginia landscape was crucial to the coming year. Jackson argued for a time, but ultimately conceded. Lee then thanked him, congratulated him again, shook his hand, and sent him on his way.
    Upon returning to his tent, Jackson sat down and thought about what to do next. There would be the transition, both he and his people would need to hand over the corps to his successor, probably A.P. Hill. He would almost certainly be called to Richmond, to confer with the War Department and President Davis.
    The thought gave him a warm sense of anticipation. All this made Christmas in Richmond a very real possibility, and that would make his wife Anna very happy, especially as soon afterward he would be posted farther away than ever. The only redeeming feature of his summer-long recuperation in Lexington, Virginia was that he spent it in his own home, with his own family. He knew very well that this would be his last chance to spend time with his wife and daughter for at least a year.
    Jackson turned his thoughts to his military family. Those people who were coming with him would all receive leave before taking up duties in Georgia, of course. Jackson sadly realized he would likely have to part with Jim Lewis, his servant and cook, and long since a dear friend and companion. He was a hired slave, and Lewis’s elderly master would likely not let him go to Georgia.
    I will not buy him, Jackson thought, not even to keep him with me. I have no desire to acquire any more slaves, not under any circumstances. I should send him to home to Lexington, to help Anna care for little Julia. Yes, that will do.
    Jackson sent for Sandie Pendleton. The boyish chief of staff had been requesting leave to marry his sweetheart, Kate Corbin, since summer. Sandie entered Jackson’s tent moments later, for he was never very far from corps headquarters if he could help it.
    “Sandie,” Jackson said, “You had best write to Ms. Corbin and her family, and make your wedding plans. I’ll grant your leave shortly. I doubt you will have another before the end of the war.”
    December 9
    Late afternoon
    The Executive Mansion
    Richmond
    Davis waited in his office for the arrival of Thomas J. Jackson, newly minted as the Confederate States Army’s seventh full general, feeling completely satisfied with the way things had turned out. He had gotten his way, and his enemies in the Congress were utterly routed.
    The most effective of those enemies had been Senator Wigfall, the blowhard from Texas, the antebellum friend who had betrayed him in the name of petty politics. Predictably, Wigfall praised Jackson, while condemning Davis for “vindictively humiliating that great soldier, Joseph E. Johnston, leaving him with an empty title and no role in the war proper to his dignity and commensurate to his prowess.”
    Wigfall had always had a talent for fiery oratory, Davis had to give him that. Yet Davis’s political enemies, Wigfall included, always suffered